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FRIDAY, January 8, 2010
PII pulls out of Tobolar plant
This Week's
Inside Stories
Nitijela waits
for no man
The Nitijela kicked off its 31st Constitutional Regular Session Monday morning, with President Jurelang Zedkaia emphasizing the need for the country to make improvements in education and health, Speaker Alvin Jacklick laying down new rules, and plenty of music by three choirs. The session got off to a quick start, with the President, Speaker and Rev. Enja Enos walking in to the chamber at 10:04, suggesting the Speaker means what he says about starting on time.
That it should come to this…
After a two-year hiatus, Professor Andrew Garrod is back in town for a 10-week visit with the largest-ever contingent of Dartmouth students. The nine undergraduates are here getting practice teaching at Marshall Islands High School, Majuro Middle School and Delap Elementary School. And Garrod is gearing up to direct Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” — continuing his Shakespeare theme with a cast of MIHS students.
'Why the need
for new cars?'
In the midst of interesting back and forth in Nitijela Wednesday, Mejit Senator Dennis Momotaro interjected an observation that surely caused a reaction in some listeners.
In a session focused on the current plight of copra makers in the outer islands, several of the senators expressed concern not only about the dramatic effect of the just-introduced price drop for copra (effective January 1 copra went from .22¢ a pound to .15¢) but the fact that producers have serious difficulty getting paid, even when their product is picked up. Senator Momotaro’s question was aimed at vehicles. Specifically, he wanted to know why it was necessary for the various ministries of government to purchase new vehicles when “the vehicles they have been using were in good shape.”
One dead
in hit and run accidents
Majuro’s first road death of 2010 came early, when a driver hit and killed a young man in the Batkan area of Majuro in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day last Friday. The young man who was hit and died was reported to be a student at the College of the Marshall Islands. Another hit and run incident in the Delap area sent a man to the hospital, but he was not injured seriously, according to police.
Tyco Communications divers have been busy since late last month attaching the multi-million dollar fiber optic cable to the oceanside reef wall off Delap. Once the cable, pictured on the reef here, is hooked up in Guam at the end of January, the RMI will have high-speed Internet and phone access through the underwater cable. NTA General Manager Tony Muller said everything is on schedule so far with cable testing planned for February.
NTA’s Melven Aliven (center) helps Tim McKenna, Chris Foster, Keith Quintenilla and Brady Barrineau prepare for a day of diving on the reef.
Photos: Douglas Henry and Karen Earnshaw.
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By GIFF JOHNSON
Pacific International Inc. (PII) has ended its 30-year relationship with the RMI government for managing Tobolar Copra Processing Authority, and the north Pacific’s only copra factory is now under board control. “It’s time to move on,” said PII CEO Jerry Kramer (pictured) of PII’s decision to get out of Tobolar management. “Tobolar’s management is well-trained and they have an interested board.” Kramer added that
his staff has been working closely with the Tobolar board for a smooth transition. PII’s management officially ended on December 31, but a few continuing issues are being worked on as part of the transition, he indicated. Tobolar board chairman Jemi Nashion confirmed that PII “wanted to get out” of the management, and “based on that, we agreed. As of December 31, PII is no longer part of Tobolar.” This terminates not only 30 years of management by PII, but ends the involvement of the company that built the facility. R&D Minister Matt Zackhras at Tuesday’s Nitijela session commented on the transition to new management, and said a study of Tobolar is to be conducted by a Honolulu firm later this month that is expected to help the government to develop new products and improve the quality of the oil it sells. The assessment of Tobolar will help the board be aware of its current status, opportunities and risks so we can move forward accordingly,” Nashion told the Journal. “We need solid information, which the study will provide. It will help not only to understanding the current situation, but to help Tobolar pursue funding opportunities.” The Hawaii company that will conduct the study, Oceanic Marshalls Inc., has previously advised the Marshalls Energy Company when it was purchasing the “new” power plant in Delap in the late 1990s and has experience in bio-fuel, according to Zackhras and Tobolar board members. Nashion said the copra plant needs new equipment to improve its operations. “It needs a major overhaul and funding to do it,” he said. Kramer said his company began building Tobolar in 1976 and its first million-dollar shipment of oil was exported in 1979. “The opening of Tobolar (in the late 1970s) broke new ground,” said Kramer, noting that at the time the copra industry in the region was controlled by a handful of companies that were exploiting the islands. “Majuro is the last place north of the equator still to be milling copra.” Kramer said it had not been easy to maintain operations over the years, but with careful management, it had been possible to continue “this important source of income for outer islanders.”
Questions over child's death
Family members and friends of a child who died at Majuro Hospital say mismanagement of the child’s condition by doctors and nurses contributed to his death. The mother of the four-year-old child said she was astounded by the lack of communication, disagreements among various doctors about treatment her son needed, and a decision — the day before he died — to move him out of intensive care “because somebody else needs the bed and monitor.” Rosener Aneo said “nobody ever explained my son’s situation or condition to us.” Reflecting back on the two and a half weeks she spent with Ulysses in Majuro hospital, Aneo said: “I told my husband it was no different if we rented an apartment and stayed there with our son” — because of what she said was a lack of attention and communication from medical staff. Aneo said three days passed after admission before her son’s doctor came to see him in the pediatrics ward. Hospital Administrator Dr. Marie Lanwi-Paul said she was looking into the matter, had spoken with one doctor and nurses, but needed to get more information on the case. She did say, however, that there were underlying complications with the boy when he came in including “severe malnutrition” and cerebral palsy, which he had from birth. Lanwi-Paul described the rat bite that the boy received at home as being so severe that the cheekbone was visible. She said the medical staff informed her that the patient’s family refused the offers of reconstructive surgery for the boy’s face and a feeding tube to help him get food. “The doctor wanted to insert the tube to improve his nutritional status,” Lanwi-Paul said. But Aneo tells a story opposite of this. She said a Majuro Hospital doctor brought a visiting doctor to see Ulysses after he had been in hospital for a week to offer reconstructive surgery for her son’s face while the visiting doctor was here. They briefly discussed the opportunity and said they needed her to think about it and make the decision, which she interpreted as meaning they would return at some later point to confirm the plan. She says she was not told they needed a decision that minute, and no one ever came back to her to follow up about her decision for the surgery and then she found out the doctor left island the following week. As to the feeding tube, Aneo said that as her son’s condition deteriorated, after it was recommended by one doctor, she repeatedly asked doctors and nurses when the feeding tube would be inserted. She noted, however, that one of the doctors involved in the care of her son had recommended against using a feeding tube because of the boy’s breathing difficulties, while other doctors said it should be used. Even minutes before her son died December 29, she had asked medical staff what was happening with the feeding tube. Dr. Lanwi-Paul said medical staff said the child was “doing fine,” which is why he was transferred out of ICU after three days and returned to the regular ward where he died the next day. But Aneo said she and her husband were shocked by the hospital staff decision to move Ulysses from ICU and argued with them about it. Funeral services finished on Tuesday this week for Ulysses, who would have celebrated his fifth birthday this Saturday.
Under the leadership of Fr. Ray T. Sabio, MSC, and Jinnie de Brum, the Assumption “Daughters of Mary” visited the Majuro Prison last week to bring Christmas cheer. In the Roman Catholic Church, December 28 — the day of the visit — is designated as the Feast of the Holy Innocents. These innocents were the babies put to death by the infuriated King Herod after the visit of the Wise Men from the East. The Assumption group offered prayers and sang Christmas songs to the prisoners and their wards. They also gave various gifts and food to them.

Journal 1/10/1971

Journal 1/10/1986
P1 Surprise and wonder was the reaction in Majuro this week to the announcement by Air Micronesia concerning their route and schedule change, which will effect service in the Trust Territory and the Republic of Nauru. Air Micronesia President Domnick Renda announced that as of January 15 flights from Hawaii will no longer be stopping at Johnston Island. Renda also said he has informed Nauru that it will no longer be able to service that country every two weeks in light of the route change.
P2 Sorry, all gone! is the situation at the little thatch shack (the old guard of polluting Micronesiana) known locally as the 24-hour club. It closed down finally last week and has already been disassembled. The only noticeable effect so far has been a large increase in the sale of cola down at Isaac Lanwi’s Liberty Store on Sunday afternoon.
P1 The second major Cabinet shift in less than a month was announced by President Amata Kabua Wednesday. The latest reshuffling will see five ministers change portfolio within the Cabinet. Former Minister of Health Kunar Abner will now head to Public Works, Education Minister Tom Kijiner takes over at Finance, Public Works Minister Charles “Takao” Domnick moves into the Foreign Ministry replacing Minister Tony deBrum who is now head of Health, and Minister Phillip Muller moves from Finance to Education. The shifts were made in order to stimulate policy review
and changes in each ministry, said informed sources.
P1 Jaluit Atoll held a runoff election for Mayor December 20 and Diem Robert gathered over 51 percent of the votes to edge Maida Kabua in the close Mayoral race.
P3 Majuro Chamber of Commerce President Joe Ayuyu reported on recent activities in Majuro at the monthly meeting held at Runway Restaurant. Sam’s Enterprises has begun its fresh fish selling operation, Gale Marine and Engineering is now capable of making short and long shafts, and G&L Enterprises recently opened in a beautiful new facility at the location where, early in 1985, the original store was destroyed by fire. Some general heated discussion characterized the meeting regarding the difficulties businesses here have been experiencing in obtaining electrical hook ups and phone or telex connections from the government.
P4 You probably wonder what that concrete foundation is being built on the old runway in front of Evelyn Konou’s store, right?
Well, that’s the new milk factory and ice cream plant.
They had promised ice cream for Christmas but didn’t quite make it.
P4 Ad — Take a trip on the new AMI Dornier Airplane. Excellent service, twice as fast to the outer islands. Take a look into the history of the Marshalls from World War II at Japanese fortified atolls: Mili, Jaluit, Wotje and Maloelap. The German centers on Likiep and Jaluit. The serene beauty of Ailinglaplap, Namu and Ailuk. Call 3373.
P8 Majuro’s newest restaurant opened its doors last Sunday. The Lula Restaurant, located just south of Marshall Islands High School on the oceanside of the mainroad, can provide meals for up to 70 at one time, according to owner Lany Latak. One of the main features of the new restaurant will be the commissary section, which will make canned and packaged goods available to the people in Utrikan.
P9 They don’t know if they’ll wear dresses or pants yet, but they do know they will play softball. This is the situation with the in formation girls softball team. Girls from Acme, Mieco, Kitco and the island in general are organizing themselves into a little league — and if you like, Male Chauvinist Pig, you can see them practicing at Uliga Park.
P9 If you think a taxi stopping in front of you on the road is one of the more irksome things that can slop up your day, put yourself in the position of the Continental Air Micronesia pilot who had to circle the island four times while a taxi with a flat tire stood immobile on the approach runway. Evidently the driver, Harris Ru, thought the taxi should come before the plane. Restraint was used by Publc Works men in moving the taxi — after picking up the taxi they didn’t put it in the ocean. Public Works Officer Jim Pualoa really rued that.

Journal 1/8/1993
P1 Majuro hospital recorded an eight year low in babies born during 1992. Hospital statistics show 741 babies were born during 1992, the lowest figure since 1984, the last year that fewer than 700 babies were born. The 741 is 17 percent down on record-setting 1987
when a whopping 895 babies were born in Majuro.
P1 Tobolar combined private sector speed and engineering talent to load coconut oil and copra cake for off-island sale valued at more than $250,000 during the New Year period. Foregoing the usual pleasures of the holiday period, Tobolar crews ran a non-stop 54-hour loading operation to meet shipping deadlines.
P4 Chief Justice Neil Rutledge and his wife, EPA attorney Elizabeth Harding, received invitations to the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in Washington on January 20. That includes a black tie inaugural ball, the inauguration itself, seats at the parade reviewing stand, a host of related events, and the possible chance to rub elbows with America’s new President and an assortment of powers to be in the US capital. They’ll have some company. Jack Niedenthal called up Tuesday with the greeting: “Stop press, the invitations arrived!” He and David Strauss, both of whom dropped $1,000 contributions on the
Clinton campaign last year, will be heading east. Jack says he’ll have to forgo the pleasure of a trip to Disneyworld with 30 Bikini folks to attend the inauguration.
P11 1992 produced the lowest rainfall in Majuro since statistics began being kept in 1960. The extended drought led to Majuro getting only 86.11 inches, below the average rainfall of 132.44.
P20 The first youth peer educator training program to be held on the outer islands will get underway on Wotje later this month. Wotje health assistant Jibaibe Boktok is coordinating the one-week youth health leadership seminar on his island with the Ministry of Health’s new Division of Adolescent Health and the Youth to Youth in Health program.